This content was produced by the Advertising Department of Chron.com in collaboration with Children's Heal. The news and editorial staffs of Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle had no role in its preparation.

Dental Decay Affects School Performance

If children aren’t healthy, their potential to grow and thrive in the classroom will be impacted. One health condition that can go undetected is dental decay, often impacting children who traditionally come from underserved and uninsured communities. In Texas, nearly 6 out of 10 children have a history of dental decay and more than a quarter have untreated decay[1]. The likelihood that children are in classrooms trying to learn to read and write with a swollen mouth or pain caused by tooth decay is real. Eventually, tooth decay can affect their overall health and well-being and lead to other medical issues like infections, bacteria and tooth loss. Research shows that the consequences of poor oral hygiene can lead to increased school absence and lower standardized test scores. Simply put, kids who understand about proper oral care and have access to dental care at an early age enjoy better physical and psychological well-being, not to mention healthier smiles.

According to a 2018 report issued by the Texas Health Institute, tooth decay is the leading chronic illness among school-age children. However, kids in Texas suffer from this problem at a much higher rate than children in other parts of the U.S. When considering the overall health of children in Texas, these statistics are truly alarming. The oral health crisis in Texas is complex and multifaceted. To make an impact, a coalition of parents, guardians, teachers, policymakers, and community leaders are needed.

Take, for example, the work of the Guardians of the Smile program, a partnership between Guardian and Children’s Health Fund (CHF) that was announced earlier this year. The goal of the program is to provide necessary dental resources and academic programming to teach students about proper lifelong oral hygiene habits. The program also introduces the Tooth Guardian, a superhero who teaches kids how to care for their teeth in a fun and interactive way. Last month, the Tooth Guardian made its first stop in Dallas to educate Texas children about proper oral health habits.

It’s important to provide access and education to children and their families about best practices in dental health care, especially those living in underserved communities

“It’s important to provide access and education to children and their families about best practices in dental health care, especially those living in underserved communities,” said Dennis Walto, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Health Fund. “We’ve partnered with Guardian to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health and to bring smiles to America’s most vulnerable children.”

More work needs to be done to ensure children are healthy and thriving. Last year, CHF issued a report evaluating all the health barriers to learning. It examined which U.S. states require children to be screened for seven different health conditions including vision problems, hearing difficulties, uncontrolled asthma, dental pain, hunger, lead exposure, and mental health issues. In this assessment, Texas joined 28 other states that were graded a “D” for not mandating required screenings for all seven health conditions. Dental screenings are not mandated at Texas schools, yet a recent Guardian survey revealed that 76 percent of Texans are in favor of mandating dental screenings after learning oral health is a health barrier to learning.

We should be giving our kids the greatest opportunity to be educated and fulfill their dreams, however, lack of access to quality dental care continues to plague many communities across the country

“We should be giving our kids the greatest opportunity to be educated and fulfill their dreams, however, lack of access to quality dental care continues to plague many communities across the country,” said Dr. Randi Tillman, Chief Dental Officer, at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. “Through our partnership with Children’s Health Fund, our customized oral health education program will help reach children across the country, so we are proud to bring it to Texas where the need is great.”

The donation from Guardian to Children’s Health Fund is just the start to making kids’ smiles in Texas bright and healthy. For those interested in learning more about Children’s Health Fund or donating, visit www.childrenshealthfund.org.

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. GUARDIAN® and the GUARDIAN G® Logo are service marks of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and are used with express permission.